Q&A With Author David Blaze

Please welcome author David Blaze to the Reading Room today. Also an author of adult genres, his current, seemingly addictive middle grade My Fox series has been getting a lot of attention lately. This enjoyable interview might show you why.

A. My real name is Timothy David. My son’s name is Zander Blaze. Our names are combined to show unity and to acknowledge the books I write are for children. Zander Blaze turned five years old this month. You’d have to ask the dinosaurs for my age. 😉

Author David Blaze and his son Zander

My background is in writing horror and suspense for adults. After my son was born, I knew I had to do something different. Before that, I never thought I’d write children’s books one day. Just like my son has changed my life, this new way of writing books has changed my life. I write mainly for middle grade audiences, as I honestly have no memory of my early childhood (check with the dinosaurs). One day I got an image of a fox stuck in my head and I knew I had to write about it. But it couldn’t be any fox—there had to be something special about him. That was two years and eight books ago, and I’ve never looked back.

Q. Interesting! What sort of books do you write now?

A. I write a combination of middle grade fantasy and realistic fiction. The My Fox stories take place in the real world but with talking animals. I love to write about talking animals! I’ve also written about a child genie. Every book I’ve written reflects events in my own life. The talking fox and child genie were part of it, too. You believe me, right?

Q. Why do you write what you write?

A. My son is young, and I want to teach him values as he grows older. All of my books are written to reach young readers in a way that impresses values without being preachy. It helps to have some fun, fantasy, and adventure with it!

I worked a full-time job until March 2018. I came home after work and wrote until 3 o’clock every morning. It was hard. I was exhausted all the time. I did this because I wanted a life one day where I could always be home when my son was sick, had vacations, had sporting events, etc. I live that life now. Every book I write reminds of what and who I’m doing it for.

Q. Where are you located?

A. Orlando,Florida

Q. Can you tell us something about your work that makes you proud?

A. I’m glad we live in a time where our voices can be heard, and our words can be read without getting permission from outside entities. When I was growing up, if you published a book outside of the main media/publishers, it was called vanity. The publishers of those books were called vanity publishers, implying the only reason for the books being published was for the authors to feel good about themselves and show off. These kinds of publishers still exist, but now we can publish books of value ourselves. And we’re not all vain! Except for that one guy over there. 😉

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

A. Letting go of my past. I had met with a lot of success with horror and suspense for adults. It lasted for years but eventually faded away. I wanted to believe I could regain that success by writing the same type of material. I had drafted fourteen complete book ideas in 2016. Thirteen of them were horror and suspense. One was a crazy idea about a kid and a talking fox. I struggled with this for weeks! I tried to fight it, but the kid and the fox kept nudging me. I finally gave into them and wrote their story. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the best writing decision I’d ever made. That kid and fox are in a series six books strong now and still going.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

A. I will continue to write middle grade fiction. I have 5 books planned for 2019. There will be a whole new series once the My Fox world is complete. Once all of that’s done…who am I kidding? It’ll never be done. I love writing stories and creating worlds and lives that never existed. I have new ideas every day. Want to know the truth about where my ideas for books come from? I have no idea. Ask the dinosaurs.

My Fox Ate My HomeworkMy name is Jonah Johnson, and I’m in the 6th grade – but please call me Joe. My whole world just got turned upside down. It’s my first day at a new school and I’ve already got to deal with the bully. If that wasn’t bad enough, there’s a talking fox that keeps getting me into trouble at my new house in the country. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true! To top it all off, I’ve got to help save my mom’s house!

“…Blaze is a seriously entertaining writer who gets the odd and quirky humor kids like, and many fortunate adults somehow still appreciate.” ~Readers Favorite

From My Fox Ate My Homework

Where can people keep up
with you and buy your books?

Follow David Blaze on social media and visit his web site for more information.

Thanks for joining me today and sharing your story with us, David. All the best to you, Zander, and your Fox! ~Shana

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks. And thanks, as always, for reading! ~Rosco’s Reading Room

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Published by Shana Gorian

Besides this children's book blog, I write chapter books for 6-10 year olds about the adventures of a brother and sister and their lovable German shepherd called the Rosco the Rascal series. Find my books at shanagorian.com
View all posts by Shana Gorian

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5 comments

I read some of David Blaze’s books and I loved them!Well I read it on kindle instead because I don’t have these good books!Now I have a set on kindle and also gave a review on mom’s kindle!I love these books!